STEREO / Japan / May 2001
Special Recommendation Award
"This is a remarkable machine for tube fans. It creates a highly fascinating sound with musical energy and warmth, thus nowadays' crystal-clear clarity." Kamizaki.
"It shows the good quality of CD, especially to those jurassic analog listeners." Kaneko.
"It plays out the timbre of the tube output and the CD's original range sensation and resolution..." Salto.

Prima CD Player - High-end CD player at affordable price.

We designed this CD player with the goal to offer the best performance from the latest technology components in signal conversion and treatment.    First, we chose a musical and reliable Sony laser mechanism, able to read CD’s, CD-R’s and CD-RWs.    Then, by performing a 192 kHz over-sampling and delivering data to a high performance 24 bit / 192 kHz DAC from Burr-Brown, digital signal is converted with enhanced resolution, presence, dynamics and soundstage (16 bit signal treated by a 24 bit DAC), giving analogue-like medium and high frequency resolution.
In order to keep and reveal the qualities of the digital stage, the output stage features two sub-miniature tubes and a high quality buffer.
We hope you’ll enjoy its qualities as much as we do.

Specifications:

· Frequency range ..........….................................…………................. 15 Hz - 20 kHz (-1dB)
· Output voltage ...........................……................…………….....…………………. 2,3 V RMS
· Output impedance .......................…..................…………….....….………………. 100 ohms
· Signal to noise ratio ……………….....................................................….……….….... 100dB
· Total harmonic distortion ……………...................................…….………...……......< 0,15 %
· Read software …………………………………… 16 bit / 44.1 kHz audio CD, CD-R, CD-RW

Power supply
· 115-230 VAC, 50 / 60 Hz
· Power consumption (with tube) .........….........……………….....…......…..................... 20W

Technology

· Sony mechanism
· Low jitter master clock
· 192 kHz over-sampling
· Burr-Brown PCM1739E 24 bit / 192 kHz Digital to Analog converter
· 6021W subminiature tube

General

· Analog output ……………………………………………. single-ended RCA / balanced XLR
· Digital output ………………………………………………. single-ended RCA and TOSLINK
· Chassis and lid ..…………………………………………………………….……… 15/10 steel
· Weight …………………………………………………………………………..……….. 19,6 lbs.
· Dimensions (W x L x H) ……………..…………………………. 17.13 x 12.80 x 4.02 inches

           The Prima delivers about 75% of the performance of the Capitole at an affordable price. I have compared it to several players costing around the same amount of money and the results are almost laughable. The Prima lifts the veil that virtually all CD Players project across the soundstage. It is the sort of clouding that is not noticed until it is removed. It allows the listener to "see" right through the soundstage into inky blackness behind it. The instruments are so perfectly focussed and alive that you feel that you can recognise the musicians and see the faces in the choir. The clarity and purity of both male and female voices are just fantastic.

            What is so really stunning is that the Capitole is about the same level of performance above the Prima as the Prima is over the very best CD Players. I could not live now without my Capitole, but if the price is just too daunting, this is as close as you are going to get.